The Office of the Ombudsman(external link) for information about making a Official Information Act (OIA) request to the IAA or Immigration New Zealand or if you’re unhappy with how Immigration New Zealand has handled your visa application, residence application or any other administrative decision, such as refugee status.

The Commerce Commission(external link) if you wish to report an immigration adviser within New Zealand for false or misleading conduct or statements under the Fair Trading Act.

What kind of problems do they handle?

The IAA investigates complaints about people giving unlicensed immigration advice which can lead to the person facing a fine of up to $100,000 and/or up to seven years in prison.

It also investigates complaints about licensed (and formerly licensed) immigration advisers. Any person either here or overseas that gives you advice about immigrating to New Zealand must be licensed by the IAA, unless they are exempt(external link).

The IAA Code of Conduct sets minimum standards of professional conduct and ethics that immigration advisers must meet.

The Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal makes decisions on complaints about licensed immigration advisers that have been referred by the IAA. The Tribunal decides what sanctions should be imposed when a complaint has been upheld.

The Tribunal also hears appeals and deals with disciplinary proceedings against licensed immigration advisers. Appeals may relate to:

a decision by the Registrar of Immigration Advisers to cancel an immigration adviser’s licence

a determination of the Registrar to reject a complaint against a licensed immigration adviser.

What do I need to do?

If you want to report someone who had provided unlicensed immigration advice, contact the IAA(external link) immediately.

The Commerce Commission

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